Statehouse Insider: Let's spend the summer in Springfield

Heading into the special session on pension reform, no one was talking optimistically that a solution would be forged.

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By Doug FinkeThe State Journal-Register

Star Courier - Kewanee, IL

By Doug FinkeThe State Journal-Register

Posted Jun. 15, 2013 at 10:00 PM

By Doug FinkeThe State Journal-Register

Posted Jun. 15, 2013 at 10:00 PM

Heading into the special session on pension reform, no one was talking optimistically that a solution would be forged.

Instead, the discussion often centered around how long Gov. Pat Quinn would keep lawmakers in Springfield in the quest to pass a pension bill or bills. For now, lawmakers are only scheduled to be in special session on Wednesday, but there’s nothing to stop Quinn from keeping them around longer if he thinks there’s some political advantage in doing so.

Plus, pensions may not be the only issue to bring lawmakers back this summer. Many people believe Quinn will either outright veto the concealed-carry bill or try to rewrite part of it. With the state still facing a July 9 deadline to avoid a concealed-carry free-for-all, lawmakers would probably want to get back quickly to try and override any veto. The House and Senate could agree to do that without Quinn’s blessing.

In any event, it’s another small step toward the perpetual meeting of the General Assembly.

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Speaking of perpetual activities, add political campaigns to the list.

We’re now up to three and counting in the sweepstakes to replace Quinn as governor. One of them, Republican Bruce Rauner, even aired some political ads last week, which were kind of jarring to hear in June of a non-election year.

Hope you enjoyed that whole seven-month hiatus from campaigning and political ads since last November’s elections.

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Uh-oh, Chicago Blackhawks fans. Quinn is betting on your team to win the Stanley Cup.

Quinn made a wager with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick that the Blackhawks will prevail over the Boston Bruins for professional ice hockey’s top award. The governor whose state has the losing team will volunteer to work at a food bank in the winning state.

The uh-oh part stems from a similar wager Quinn made a couple of years ago with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. He bet Walker that the Chicago Bears would defeat the Green Bay Packers in the 2011 NFC championship game, and if they didn’t, he would volunteer at a Wisconsin food pantry while wearing a Packers jersey.

If you’re a Bears fan, you probably don’t want to be reminded how that game turned out. Suffice it to say, Quinn didn’t establish a good record in these bets.

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House Republicans are very concerned about the cost of higher education.

It said so right in a press release announcing a news conference last week by Springfield-area House Republicans to address the issue. The release said the news conference was being held “as many Illinois families are preparing to send their kids to college and trying to find ways to pay for it.”

This is not to say House Republicans from other parts of the state are uncaring about high college costs. Why, a group of suburban House Republicans held a news conference on that very same topic the day before the Springfield contingent did.

Sadly, the bills weren’t introduced until Wednesday, which was nearly two weeks after the General Assembly concluded its spring session. You don’t need to be a student of government to know that bills introduced when the legislature is still in session almost always have a better chance than those introduced after everyone has gone home.

So the earliest this stuff will be considered is the veto session, and good luck then. With the state’s finances still a mess, you pretty much need to be a large company threatening to move in order to get tax breaks.

Oh well, those House Republican college bills will look good in campaign mailings.